Fewer stricken ESU students go to ER

The number of East Stroudsburg University students seeking medical treatment for a gastrointestinal illness had declined by Friday afternoon.

A total of 154 students — almost 2.5 percent of a population of nearly 6,300 — had been seen at ESU's Health Services Center or transported to Pocono Medical Center or another urgent care facility since Tuesday, the school said in a new release Friday.

That included about 40 students from Thursday to Friday, a drop from the 70 students from Wednesday to Thursday.

Pocono Medical Center, meanwhile, saw a couple of dozen students Thursday to Friday, bringing its total for the week to 90, according to Geoffrey Roche, the hospital's spokesman. Eight of those students were admitted; the rest were treated and released.

An unknown number of sick students have not sought medical attention. ESU has asked those experiencing symptoms, chiefly vomiting, to stay home.

The cause of the outbreak is unclear. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is investigating but has yet to reach a conclusion.

Pocono Medical Center saw 62 ESU students from Wednesday through Thursday morning, admitting eight and sending the rest home after treatment,...

More than 100 East Stroudsburg University students have been stricken with a fast-moving, hard-hitting gastrointestinal infection, the university said Thursday.

Pocono Medical Center saw 62 ESU students from Wednesday through Thursday morning, admitting eight and sending the rest home after treatment,...

(Sam Kennedy)

"It's difficult to give a solid estimate on how long this investigation will take," Health Department spokesman Wes Culp said in an email. "Our experts are still gathering information on what could have caused this situation. It could be a few more days or a few more weeks."

Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke's University Health Network's chief of infectious diseases, told The Morning Call the likely culprit is norovirus. Norovirus, made famous by outbreaks on cruise ships, also is referred to as Norwalk virus and used to be called "winter vomiting disease."

"It's the most common [gastrointestinal] illness you would see this time of year," he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, norovirus is spread mostly through food, especially raw fruits and vegetables touched by someone with the virus who hasn't washed their hands.

Jahre described norovirus as a "fairly hardy" virus that can live on surfaces "certainly for hours and possibly days, depending on the conditions," and that can survive temperatures up to 140 degrees. "People who are ill should not be preparing food," he said.

"I had no energy whatsoever and didn't have the urge to go the medical center," the 2011 Salisbury High School graduate said. "I couldn't even drink water. I was throwing that up too."

Dansbury Commons has remained open, though self-serve stations were closed Wednesday and only paper products were being used, according to ESU.

"To dispel rumors about a food-borne virus, East Stroudsburg borough's health inspector, who works in cooperation with the state Health Department, spent hours on site in ESU's dining hall [Thursday] conducting an assessment of the facility, which was found to be in compliance," ESU said in its news release.

ESU spokeswoman Brenda Friday said students who have reported the infection have been a mix of residential students as well as commuters.

"Not all of them have eaten in our dining hall," she said in an email. "We also know that some staff are also presenting with the illness and have not eaten in the dining hall."